Amazing Grace

If you have not seen this movie, I urge you to. Not only does it portray the true story of William Wilberforce and his struggle to end the slave trade in Britain, it shows how even one man with unmoveable convictions can change the course of history. I have seen the movie a few times, but the last viewing a few days ago was more powerful than the previous. I have subsequently ordered biographies on William Wilberforce and John Newton, a former slave-trader turned preacher, author of the hymn "Amazing Grace" and very influential in the life of Wilberforce. I eagerly await their arrival and I will certainly let you know how they read. There is one scene in the movie which was particularly memorable for me-- Wilberforce was ready to forgo his glittering future as a politician and become a man of the church and he went to his friend John Newton for advice who, as described above, left his former profession as a slave trader to become a preacher. To paraphrase, Newton essentially tells Wilberforce that he need not become a preacher to do the work of God and that one can do the Lord's work in whichever occupation is chosen. For Wilberforce, God's purpose for him was achieved through his political career as he helped bring about the end of a most atrocious practice. This is an interesting idea for me as I try and figure out what path my life should take. It does not matter whether one is a teacher, a politician, a lawyer or accountant, but in whatever career one chooses, the purpose of that job should be to do the Lord's work. Furthermore, to echo the words of John Newton "Though I have lost my memory, two things I know. I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior." The words if his hymn certainly echo Newton's sentiments and reflect my own personal feelings as well:

Amazing Grace (How sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snare,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall profess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

Anyway... just few of the very many ideas that I found interesting in the movie. You should watch it. Here's the trailer.

In further culinary escapades, I made bread by myself for the first time on Memorial Day. I didn't have to work because the pool was closed due to the horrid weather and I decided to try my hand at being domestic. Yikes. It all turned out well: the yeast lived (always the scary part for me) and thanks to the bread machine which kneads the dough for you, I successfully baked 4 yummy loves of wheat bread. Hooray! And to make matters better, yesterday I made falafel for the first time with Sarah. She had made up some whole wheat pitas and we filled them with the aforementioned falafel, tomatoes, hummus, and lettuce. De-lish. Sarah has this great cookbook entitled Whole Grain Baking which includes the recipe for the pita bread, and insane number of bread recipes, and I'm looking forward to tasting the Raspberry pie currently baking in the oven. Perhaps domesticity is in my future after all.

Countdown for France: 9 days.